TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
The University of Alabama's Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score rose to an 86 this year, once again exceeding acceptable standards for completion of undergraduate studies nationally for the period covering student-athletes who attended the University during 2003-06, according to figures released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

"These scores are another strong indicator of the importance we place on education at the University of Alabama and the balanced excellence the Crimson Tide continues to exhibit in both academics and athletics," UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle said.

Of Alabama's 16 intercollegiate athletics programs in existence at the time, seven - women's golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball as well as men's golf and men's swimming and diving - all achieved perfect scores of 100. The Tide is tied with Vanderbilt as the program with the most teams in the SEC with a perfect 100.

"To have seven teams with a perfect score of a 100 speaks volumes about the hard work and dedication of so many when it comes to the ultimate goal of earning a degree here at Alabama," Battle said. "I'm very proud of our student-athletes, faculty, coaches, staff and everyone who strives to keep us moving forward in this vital area."

Overall, nine Alabama programs recorded a GSR score of at least 90 and 12 were over 80. The Alabama women's rowing program is not included in this survey as it did not become a scholarship sport at UA until 2006.

The Crimson Tide's GSR of 86 was second overall in the Southeastern Conference, just behind Vanderbilt. The Tide's defending NCAA Champion men's golf team led the league with perfect GSR score of 100. Alabama's women's golf, soccer, women's tennis, volleyball and men's swimming and diving teams also led the SEC with GSR scores of 100. The women's track and field team also led the league, tallying a score of 96.

The Tide's two-time defending national champion football team was again ranked in the top half of the SEC with a score of 73. The Alabama women's swimming and diving team was second, just behind conference newcomer Missouri, with a score of 97. The Tide men's basketball was once again third in the SEC with a score 77, a six point jump from the year before, while the men's track and field team was fourth with a score of 83.

The GSR measures graduation rates at Division I institutions and includes transferring into the institutions. The GSR also allows institutions to subtract student-athletes who leave their institutions prior to graduation as long as they would have been academically eligible to compete had they remained.

The NCAA GSR and the Academic Success Rate (ASR) were developed in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflected the mobility among college students today. Both rates improve on the federally mandated graduation rate by including students who were omitted from the federal calculation.